Circular No. 06/2016/TT-BTNMT on types of weather and hydrological forecasts and warning periods

CIRCULAR

activities of calibration, verification, testing types of weather and hydro-meteorological forecasts and warnings, and their lead times

Pursuant to the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology dated November 23, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2013, promulgated by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director of the Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change Department and the Legal Affairs Department;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issues this Circular to specify the types of weather and hydro-meteorological forecasts and warnings and their lead times.

                                                     Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

1. This Circular provides detailed regulations for Clause 3 of Article 22 of the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology.

2. This Circular does not apply to activities related to forecasting and warning of meteorological and hydrological disasters. Forecasting and warning of meteorological and hydrological disasters shall be carried out in accordance with Decision No. 46/2014/QD-TTg dated August 15, 2014 of the Government Chairman on forecasting, warning, and disseminating information about natural disasters.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to the national system of meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning and organizations and individuals involved in meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning activities within the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Hazardous weather phenomena are abnormal states or developments of weather that may cause damage to people and property, affect the environment, living conditions, and economic and social activities.

2. Hazardous hydrological phenomena are abnormal states or developments of hydrological factors that may cause damage to people and property, affect the environment, living conditions, and economic and social activities.

3. Hazardous marine phenomena are abnormal states or developments of marine factors and sea surface conditions that may cause damage to people and property, affect the environment, living conditions, and economic and social activities at sea.

4. Major rivers are those with a drainage area of 10,000 km² or more.

CFlowchart of procedures for establishing thematic maps at scales of 1:5,000, 1:10,000, 1:500,000, and 1:1,000,000

DETAILED REGULATIONS

Section 1

LEAD TIMES FOR METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL FORECASTS AND WARNINGS

Article 4. Deadlines for weather forecasts and warnings

1. Very short term: forecast and warning up to 12 hours.

2. Short term: forecast and warning from over 12 hours to 72 hours.

3. Medium term: forecast and warning from over three days to ten days.

4. Long term: forecast and warning from over ten days to thirty days.

5. Seasonal term (other term): forecast and warning from over one month to six months.

Article 5. Lead times for hydrological forecasts and warnings

1. Very short term:

a) For medium and small rivers: forecast and warning under six hours;

b) For major rivers: forecast and warning under twelve hours.

Point 2. Short term:

a) For medium and small rivers: forecast and warning from six hours to twenty-four hours;

b) For major rivers, except the Mekong River: forecast and warning from twenty-four hours to forty-eight hours;

c) For the Mekong River: forecast and warning up to five days.

Point 3. Medium term:

a) For rivers, except the Mekong River: flood season forecast and warning up to five days and dry season forecast and warning up to ten days;

b) For the Mekong River: both flood and dry seasons forecast and warning up to ten days.

4. Long term: forecast and warning from over ten days to ninety days.

5. Seasonal term (other term): forecast and warning from over three months to six months.

Article 6. Forecast and Warning Periods for Marine Weather

1. Very short term: forecast and warning up to 12 hours.

2. Short term: forecast and warning from over 12 hours to 72 hours.

3. Medium term: forecast and warning from over three days to ten days.

4. Long term: forecast and warning from over ten days to thirty days.

Article 7. Forecast Periods for Climate

1. Short-term period: forecast up to 01 year.

2. Medium-term period: forecast from over 01 year to 10 years.

3. Long-term period: forecast from over 10 years to 100 years.

Article 8. Forecast Periods for Water Resources

1. Short-term period: forecast up to 07 days.

2. Medium-term period: forecast from over 07 days to 30 days.

3. Seasonal period (other period): forecast from over 01 month to 06 months.

4. Annual period (other period): forecast from over 06 months to 12 months.

Section 2

TYPES OF WEATHER AND MARINE FORECAST AND WARNING BULLETINS

Article 9. Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletins

1. Extreme short-term weather forecast and warning bulletin: forecast and warn about meteorological factors and phenomena that may occur at a location or area within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on current status description, forecast location, time of occurrence, intensity or value of the forecast factor.

2. Short-term weather forecast and warning bulletins include the following types of bulletins:

a) Weather trend analysis bulletin: The bulletin must contain at least information on current status description, weather pattern, and forecasted weather trend development for regions.

b) Land-based weather forecast and warning bulletin: detailed forecast of meteorological factors and phenomena at a location or region on land within the forecast period and warning of dangerous weather events that may occur. The bulletin must contain at least information on weather phenomena, clouds, air temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed.

c) Marine weather forecast and warning bulletin: detailed forecast of meteorological factors and phenomena at a marine area within the forecast period and warning of dangerous weather events that may occur. The bulletin must contain at least information on weather phenomena, visibility, wind direction and speed, sea surface condition.

3. Medium-term weather forecast and warning bulletin: includes weather trend analysis bulletin and weather forecast and warning bulletin. The content of these bulletins is similar to the content of short-term weather forecast and warning bulletins.

4. Long-term and seasonal weather forecast and warning bulletins: analyze and evaluate weather developments up to the present time, assess trends in average temperatures and rainfall at specific locations or areas compared to long-term averages, and assess the likelihood of dangerous weather events occurring within the forecast period.

Article 10. Hydrological Forecast and Warning Bulletins

1. Extreme short-term hydrological forecast and warning bulletin: forecast hydrological factors and phenomena at the forecast location and warn of dangerous hydrological events that may occur at a specific location or river basin within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on current status description, development, degree or value of the forecast factor.

2. Short-term hydrological forecast and warning bulletin: forecast hydrological factors and phenomena at the forecast location and warn of dangerous hydrological events that may occur at a specific location or river basin within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on current status description, development, degree or value of water level, flow rate.

3. Medium-term hydrological forecast and warning bulletins include the following types of bulletins:

a) Hydrological trend analysis bulletin: The bulletin must contain at least information on current status description, development, and forecasted trend of hydrological factors at the forecast location or specific river basin within the forecast period.

b) Hydrological forecast and warning bulletin: detailed forecast of hydrological factors and phenomena at the forecast location or specific river basin within the forecast period and warning of dangerous hydrological events that may occur. The bulletin must contain at least information on current status description, development, degree or value of water level, flow rate, and salinity (if applicable).

4. Long-term and seasonal hydrological forecast and warning bulletins: assess the likelihood of dangerous hydrological events and trends in changes of hydrological factors at the forecast location or specific river basin within the forecast period. The bulletin needs to contain at least information on trend changes, values of water levels, flows, salinity, and assessment of the likelihood of dangerous hydrological events occurring.

Article 11. Marine Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletin

1. Very Short-Term Marine Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletin: forecasts marine weather elements and phenomena in the forecast sea area, and warns about dangerous marine weather phenomena that may occur within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on the description of the current status, development trend, degree or value of the forecasted element.

2. Short-Term Marine Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletin: provides detailed forecasts of marine weather elements and phenomena in the forecast sea area, and warns about dangerous marine weather phenomena that may occur within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on the description of the current status, development trend, degree or time of appearance and height of high water levels, low water levels; wave height and direction; surface current speed and direction.

3. Medium-Term Marine Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletin, including the following types of bulletins:

a) Marine Weather Trend Analysis Bulletin: The bulletin must contain at least information on the description of the current status, development trend, and forecasted trend of marine weather elements in a specific sea area within the forecast period.

b) Marine Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletin: provides detailed forecasts of marine weather elements and phenomena in the forecast sea area or specific coastal zones, and warns about dangerous marine weather phenomena that may occur within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on the description of the current status, development trend, degree or time of appearance and height of high water levels, low water levels; wave direction and height; surface current direction and speed.

4. Long-Term Marine Weather Forecast and Warning Bulletin: assesses the trend of tidal changes and the possibility of spring tides occurring in a specific sea area within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on the trend of changes, time of occurrence, and values of high water levels, low water levels.

Article 12. Climate Forecast Bulletin

1. Short-Term Climate Forecast Bulletin: analyzes current climate trends and forecasts climate trends, extreme climates, and extreme climate phenomena on a global, regional, and detailed scale for Vietnam within the forecast period.

2. Medium-Term Climate Forecast Bulletin: assesses climate trends and climate oscillations on a global, regional, and detailed scale for Vietnam within the forecast period.

3. Long-Term Climate Forecast Bulletin: provides basic information on future climate change trends corresponding to different economic and social development scenarios leading to changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations within the forecast period.

Article 13. Water Resources Forecast Bulletin

1. Short-Term Water Resources Forecast Bulletin: analyzes and evaluates total rainfall volume, current water resources status up to the present time, and forecasts total rainfall volume and expected water resources that could be reached in one or more river basins within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on the development trend, degree or value of total rainfall volume and total water volume.

2. Medium-Term and Seasonal Water Resources Forecast Bulletins, including the following types of bulletins:

a) Water Resources Notification Bulletin: provides information on water resources, total water volume, and water quality (if available) for specific locations or areas.

b) Water Resources Forecast Bulletin: analyzes and evaluates total rainfall volume, current water resources status up to the present time, and forecasts total rainfall volume and expected water resources that could be reached in one or more river basins within the forecast period. The bulletin must contain at least information on the development trend, degree or value of total rainfall volume and total water volume.

3. Annual Water Resources Forecast Bulletin: analyzes and evaluates total rainfall volume, current water resources status up to the present time, and forecasts total rainfall volume and expected water resources that could be reached in one or more river basins during the winter-spring and summer-autumn seasons. The bulletin must contain at least information on the development trend, degree or value of total rainfall volume and total water volume.

Article 14. Special weather forecast bulletins upon request of users

Special weather forecast bulletins upon request of users shall be carried out on the basis of orders or agreements between users and agencies, organizations, or individuals issuing weather forecast and warning bulletins in accordance with the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology and other relevant laws.

Article 15. Weather forecast and warning bulletins under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party

Types of bulletins and forecast and warning periods for meteorological and hydrological conditions shall be implemented according to international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.

CPart III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 16. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2016.

Article 17. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The national weather forecasting and warning system and organizations and individuals engaged in weather forecasting and warning activities within the territory of Vietnam are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. The Minister, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees directly under the central government, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for enforcing this Circular.

3. The Director of the Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change Department is responsible for assisting the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in guiding, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

4. In the course of implementing this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall report them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution./.